topic Foot problems — surgery suggested — in Wellness

Foot problems — surgery suggested —

homedecor1 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:06:17 GMT

My right foot is a mess. My big toe has relocated itself to under the 2nd toe causing a "hammer toe".

I saw a foot orthopaedic surgeon who is well known in my area.

He explained my big toe and hammer toe need joint replacements to straighten both out.

I'm leary about any kind of surgery plus this is a 6 -12 week recovery, of course, no driving. I will be in a semi-cast then a boot. Sounds very involved to me although he assured me this surgery will correct problem and I'll be able to put on closed toe shoes.

(He said most likely came from years of wearing thong style flip flops & here I thought my Vionics were great🤦‍♀️)

My son will come for the surgery & first two weeks if I decide to do it.

Has anyone here had this type of surgery for these issues -- forget the medical name is -- any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you!

homedecor1

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

D Kay — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:13:48 GMT

II would get a second opinion.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

Kachina624 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:15:35 GMT

@homedecor1. Just a comment, not for you as you know, but for others.

I recently read an article written by a podiatrist on "shoes I'd never wear". Number one on his list was any kind of flip-flop. To say a Vionic flip-flop provides support is riduculous. Anyone with two eyes can see otherwise.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

homedecor1 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:17:50 GMT

@D Kay

I already saw 2 podiatrists the last suggested seeing this ortho doctor.

I always get 2nd opinions on surgery but of course, everyone is different and have different outcomes I've talked to. Some positive others negative🤷‍♀️.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

homedecor1 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:22:09 GMT

@Kachina624

I agree!!!! I've worn Vionics flip flops since I moved here & now I'm told they caused (or any thong flip flop) this problem.

Then again, Never had foot problems when I wore sneakers or closed toe shoes up north😉! I guess I learned the hard way🙁

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

PinkyPetunia — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:30:01 GMT

@homedecor1

You didn't mention if your foot was causing you pain or not. If it is painful and causing you to limit activity, not go places, etc then surgery probably will be needed.

If the toes are not causing pain, live with it as long as you can.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

Snowpuppy — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:31:23 GMT

Have you thought of trying a physical therapist?

I'm thinking some type of toe separator similar to what you get in a salon pedi or splinting with athletic taping to "retrain" the toes?

You didn't say you were in any type of pain.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

ellaphant — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:35:11 GMT

2nd opinion ALWAYS.

Yikes I wear Cloudstepper flip flops akways! Have never had any foot issues, wear a straight size six , can wear any style of shoe.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

homedecor1 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:48:12 GMT

@PinkyPetunia @Snowpuppy

NO pain at all just can't wear closed toe shoes comfortably. I bought these and they are very comfortable.

This just came about the past few months.

I just spent a week at Disney and walked thousands of steps it was a little painful from rubbing against my shoe but nothing extreme.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:56:13 GMT

@homedecor1

Here's my two cents ...

If this was a problem with your wrist or elbow, a second opinion might be enough.

These are YOUR FEET we're talking about ... your MOBILITY. If things go haywire and you can't walk ... or walk easily .... it SERIOUSLY affects your quality of life!

Unless there is some serious financial restriction (call your insurance maybe?) I would get a THIRD and FOURTH opinion.

(Sorry for all the capitalizing but I feel very strongly about protecting your ability to get around.)

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

homedecor1 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 01:04:58 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

Everything you mentioned are definitely major concerns of mine.

I know as the dr said he's done "thousands" of this procedure and "most" have excellent recovery -- concerning to me I'd be the one who can't walk😫

Thank you ...

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

RedTop — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 01:42:07 GMT

I would just have the surgery and move on. You've seen 2 podiatrists and an ortho surgeon about your hammer toe and there is only one way to fix those joints and have straight toes again. Regardless of how many more opinions you get, you're going to hear words and suggestions you've already heard.

A close friend of mine successfuly had the procedure done on both feet. A few years later she fell and broke those same toes on one foot, which seriously messed up the alignment, and they look awful. She refuses to consider surgery and the only shoes she can wear on her feet period, are clogs.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

pdlinda — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 02:23:38 GMT

@homedecor1 I had 4 hammer toes in my 20's as I INSISTED on wearing shoes that were too small when I was a teenager. I was a size 9 but INSISTED on squeezing my feet into 8 1/2 shoes! So RIDICULOUS!!

Anyhow, after I married and we moved to Indiana for my then-husband's new job, I was able to stay at home so I decided I'd get those hammer toes fixed.

The surgeon doing the procedure was very new (and inexperienced)...this was 50 years ago! The recovery was very painful and my parents drove to Indiana from New York to help with my recovery. In the end, that surgeon did a bad job and all he accomplished was moving the raised joint from the middle of the 4 toes to the top joint.

In all these years, I've NEVER BEEN able to wear open-toed shoes or sandals. All I can wear are shoes that are covered on top.

I'm not in any pain; however, I'm retired now and went to a highly rated ortho surgeon last year to see if I could improve my quality of life by having a revision hammer toe surgery. He outlined what he could do to achieve EXACTLY WHAT YOUR SURGEON OUTLINED! 12 week recovery, no driving!!

As I live alone and have nobody to assist me in recovering from the surgery, I figured out the cost of all the care I'd need (especially as I wouldn't be able to drive) and it was prohibitive. It would literally cost me thousands and thousands of $$$ for the 12 week recovery period.

I am satisfied that I'll have to live out my life wearing the closed-toe shoes as, even if I wanted to go through the expense, I cannot see myself, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES be unable to "get around" for 12 weeks!

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

kaynine — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 02:31:08 GMT

While I haven't suffered with "hammer toe", my Mother did and my Aunt. My Aunt went for the surgery. While she was laid up for a couple of months, her feet were 100% better and she stuck with wearing either tennis shoes or closed shoes. She was happy she did it.

My Mom on the other hand, didn't go for the surgery and was miserable. She had to wear a pad to keep the bottom of her foot able to walk on and she was restricted to only wearing tennis shoes. She had every color you can think of. Yet........she was only able to be on her feet 3-4 hours a day and then she had to talk her shoes off and put on her slippers. While she started out with one hammer toe, she ended up with toes on both feet being crossed under each other. It was pitiful to see her poor feet.

We probably should have been more forceful in making her having the surgery.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

bargainsgirl — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 02:39:36 GMT

Most definitely get a second or third opinion!!! I had surgery to correct arthritis, callus under big toe and it grew back a year later!!! I also had problems bending my foot normally to walk months after the surgery until I finally went for PT which was a god send. Think carefully about foot surgery!!!

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

Desertdi — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 02:42:52 GMT

@homedecor1

My friend smashed her kneecap and had to have surgery which incapacitated her ability to drive.

She had her car temporarily converted to HAND CONTROLS for the duration of her disability.

Perhaps you could look into this option before you make any decision. di

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

homedecor1 — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 02:51:10 GMT

@pdlinda

I have a very close friend who had this type of surgery about 15 years ago & sadly, her recovery was long & painful

worse part she has terrible foot issues ☹️

This is the part which worries me and I haven't thought about the expense after the surgery. I, too, live alone although I have good support system 12 weeks certainly is going to impact my life.

Thank you

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

Stevie Nix — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 03:31:03 GMT

It is a big commitment and I think you have to weigh the good outcome of surgery vs doing nothing and just live with it. I had the surgery you are contemplating on my left foot several years ago. The hammer toe came up really quickly and I didn't like it, plus it was uncomfortable. I had to wear boot and used a knee scooter for about 3 months.(I personally don't believe the doctors are realistic when they give you "heal" times.)

A hammer toe developed on my right foot and last year I took the drastic measure of having the hammer toe amputated. I didn't want to spend 3 months on a knee scooter and the toe was causing a great deal of pain. I am perfectly comfortable now, but sacrifice was no longer sandals or open toe shoes. Oh,and I wore an ortho shoe for about a week.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

Hoovermom — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:02:27 GMT

@homedecor1 wrote:
@pdlinda

I have a very close friend who had this type of surgery about 15 years ago & sadly, her recovery was long & painful
worse part she has terrible foot issues ☹️

This is the part which worries me and I haven't thought about the expense after the surgery. I, too, live alone although I have good support system 12 weeks certainly is going to impact my life.

Thank you

@homedecor1 : As with anything nowadays, maybe the surgery has become more "refined" than in the past......just thinking outloud.

Re: Foot problems — surgery suggested —

conlt — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:13:50 GMT

I have not had this type of surgery but in 2000, I had 2 hammertoes on the small toe of each foot. The toes were hitting the top of my shoes and it was difficult for me to walk. I was only in my 40's at the time.

I went to the Podiatrist and she did hammertoe surgery on both toes. My surgery was not a joint replacement. She told me that if you don't correct the hammertoes, that they get worse and more complicated. The problem will cause gait problems and make a person a person more of a fall risk. I had the surgery.

I was in a foot boot for maybe a few weeks, then I progressed to limited time in a shoe with a wide toe. I remember my toes did hurt but I was able to control the pain with medication.

I am happy that I had the surgery and those toes are still straight. I am sure my surgery would have been more extensive if I had waited. Right now, I have a hammered second toe on my left foot. I most likely will have that done. My Podiatrist explained that these days, the procedure is much easier than when I had the other 2 toes done.

I would do the surgery, Hammertoes are genetic and my aunt and mother had them. My aunt walked like she hurt and she did fall.